Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3: Alex Marquez leads Francesco Bagnaia as testing concludes

Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3 marked a thrilling climax to intense preseason testing with Alex Marquez emerging as the standout performer.

The Gresini Racing rider edged out reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia by a razor-thin margin of 0.007 seconds, setting the stage for an electrifying 2025 MotoGP season ahead.

In Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3, Ducati’s dominance remained unquestioned claiming four of the top five positions while Yamaha showed promising signs of resurgence in what could become one of the most competitive MotoGP campaigns in recent memory.

Under the scorching Malaysian sun, Alex Marquez demonstrated why Ducati’s GP24 machine remains a formidable package clocking a blistering 1:56.493s during the morning session.

This time not only secured his position at the top of the timesheets but also came within 0.156s of Bagnaia’s official lap record set during the 2024 Malaysian MotoGP qualifying.

The Spanish rider’s consistency shone through as he maintained his advantage through 50 laps, focusing on race simulations that highlighted both single-lap speed and long-run reliability. His performance underscored Gresini Racing’s potential to challenge factory teams this season, building on their strong 2024 campaign.

Francesco Bagnaia responded emphatically for the Ducati Lenovo Team pushing his GP25 prototype to a 1:56.500s lap that fell just short of toppling his rival. The Italian completed 55 laps while experimenting with new aerodynamic configurations and electronics settings, showing particular interest in improving mid-corner stability.

Meanwhile teammate Marc Marquez delivered a masterclass in adaptation, securing fifth position (1:57.042s) despite spending much of the day focused on tire management strategies.

His 10-lap sprint simulation averaging 1:57.930s revealed race-winning potential, suggesting the eight-time world champion could be a title threat in his debut Ducati season.

Yamaha’s revival efforts once more took centre stage on Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3 as Fabio Quartararo claimed third position with a 1:56.724s lap, marking the M1’s strongest preseason showing since the introduction of ground-effect aerodynamics.

The Frenchman’s 58 laps included extensive work on a new chassis designed to improve corner-entry stability with data showing significant gains in Sector 3 times compared to 2024.

Teammate Alex Rins completed Yamaha’s positive outing with tenth position (1:57.351s), the Spanish rider praising improvements to the engine braking system that helped mitigate last year’s acceleration deficits.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s technical director later confirmed the team had found “1.2 seconds per lap” compared to their 2024 Sepang test performance, a revelation that could reshuffle the competitive order.

KTM’s factory team emerged as dark horses with Pedro Acosta leading their charge in sixth place (1:57.175s). The reigning Moto2 champion displayed maturity beyond his years, consistently matching veteran teammate Brad Binder’s pace while completing 59 laps.

Red Bull KTM’s focus on refining their aerodynamic package paid dividends, particularly in high-speed corners where their RC16 appeared more planted than previous iterations.

Tech3 riders Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini provided valuable data on different fuel load scenarios, though their positions in 16th and 18th respectively highlighted the team’s work-in-progress status with new engine mappings.

Honda’s rebuilding year showed glimmers of promise through Johann Zarco’s seventh-place effort (1:57.204s), the Frenchman adapting quickly to the revised RC213V chassis.

HRC engineers concentrated on curing the chronic rear grip issues that plagued their 2024 campaign, introducing a new swingarm design that Joan Mir described as “a step in the right direction” after finishing eighth (1:57.279s).

Luca Marini’s 15th position (1:57.789s) revealed ongoing challenges with front-end feel, while test rider Michele Pirro completed 54 laps on the experimental ‘evo’ engine that reportedly features a revised firing order.

Aprilia’s factory squad concluded Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3 with mixed emotions as Marco Bezzecchi claimed eighth (1:57.328s), praising the RS-GP’s improved corner exit traction but lamenting straight-line speed deficits.

The Italian manufacturer debuted a radical new fairing design aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag, though telemetry data suggested it compromised braking stability.

Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura continued his impressive adaptation to MotoGP machinery with 14th position (1:57.754s), the Japanese rider showing particular aptitude in mixed-condition running during afternoon showers.

Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3 witnessed several notable narratives beyond the timesheets. Six-time MotoGP champion Andrea Dovizioso completed his first official laps as a Yamaha test rider, finishing 22nd (1:59.929s) while evaluating a new inertial measurement unit.

Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer impressed as the fastest rookie in 11th (1:57.401s), outpacing more experienced rivals despite limited MotoGP mileage.

Ducati’s test team conducted back-to-back comparisons between their 2024 and 2025 engines, with wildcard rider Michele Pirro logging 54 laps to gather crucial reliability data.

As teams packed their garages, the consensus suggested Ducati remains the benchmark package though Yamaha’s resurgence and KTM’s steady progress have introduced new variables to the 2025 MotoGP championship equation.

The Sepang test laid bare Honda’s ongoing struggles and Aprilia’s need for engine development, while satellite teams like Gresini and VR46 demonstrated they can challenge factory outfits with proper machinery.

With the season-opening Thailand Grand Prix looming on February 28, these three days in Malaysia have set the stage for a MotoGP season brimming with technical intrigue and rider rivalries.

Sepang MotoGP test 2025 Day 3 Results